Every Type of Computer Virus Explained in 8 Minutes

The Paint Explainer・2 minutes read

Malware poses a significant threat by causing various harm, including data corruption, system failure, and privacy breaches. Different types of malware, such as viruses, worms, Trojans, malvertising, Remote Access Trojans, and backdoors, each have specific methods of infiltration and damage.

Insights

  • Malware can take various forms, such as computer viruses, worms, Trojans, and malvertising, each with specific methods of infection and potential damage, ranging from data corruption to unauthorized access and personal information theft.
  • Remote Access Trojans (RATs) and back doors serve as tools for cybercriminals to remotely control computers and gain unauthorized access, emphasizing the critical need for robust cybersecurity measures to prevent data breaches and protect sensitive information.

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Recent questions

  • What is malware?

    Malware encompasses intentional disruptions to computers, including leaking private information, gaining unauthorized access, and interfering with security and privacy. It is a broad term that refers to any software designed to cause harm to a computer system or network.

  • How do computer viruses spread?

    Computer viruses replicate themselves by modifying other programs and inserting their code, causing infection and damage by corrupting data, causing system failure, or stealing personal information. They can spread through infected files, email attachments, or removable storage devices.

  • What are computer worms?

    Computer worms are standalone malware programs that spread by replicating themselves through computer networks, infecting other computers exponentially. They cause harm by consuming bandwidth, slowing down systems, and potentially leading to system crashes or data loss.

  • What are Trojans?

    Trojans mislead users by disguising themselves as standard programs, spreading through social engineering like email attachments or fake advertisements. They cause damage based on their specific malware, such as stealing sensitive information, deleting files, or allowing unauthorized access to the system.

  • How does malvertising work?

    Malvertising spreads malware through advertising on reputable websites, targeting users who might not see the ads due to safety precautions. It infects computers without user action or website vulnerabilities, exploiting the trust users have in legitimate websites to deliver malicious software.

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Summary

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Types of Malware: Viruses, Worms, Trojans, Malvertising

  • Malware encompasses intentional disruptions to computers, including leaking private information, gaining unauthorized access, and interfering with security and privacy.
  • A computer virus, a type of malware, replicates itself by modifying other programs and inserting its code, causing infection and damage by corrupting data, causing system failure, or stealing personal information.
  • Computer worms are standalone malware programs that spread by replicating themselves through computer networks, infecting other computers exponentially, causing harm by consuming bandwidth.
  • Trojans mislead users by disguising themselves as standard programs, spreading through social engineering like email attachments or fake advertisements, causing damage based on their specific malware.
  • Malvertising spreads malware through advertising on reputable websites, targeting users who might not see the ads due to safety precautions, infecting computers without user action or website vulnerabilities.
  • Remote Access Trojans (RATs) remotely control computers, allowing hackers to access and control them, potentially stealing personal information, while back doors provide unauthorized access to systems, enabling cybercriminals to steal data or install additional malware.
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